Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica [INAOE]

Organization:
INAOE is a public research centre with leadership at the national and international levels in scientific research, technology development and graduate education (MSc and PhD) in the areas of astrophysics, optics, electronics, computational sciences and related areas. INAOE is also the host institution for the Mexico Campus of the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRECTEALC). INAOE, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico and the National Council for Science and Technology (CONACYT) have signed an agreement specifying their support for the functioning of CRECTEALC.
The Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin America and the Caribbean (CRECTEALC), affiliated to the United Nations, was created in 1997 through an agreement signed by the Governments of Brazil and Mexico. That agreement was ratified by the respective congresses of Brazil and Mexico in 1998. Further, the Governments of Brazil and Mexico signed agreements with CRECTEALC regarding the legal status and prerogatives provided to the Brazil Campus and the Mexico Campus. The Brazil Campus began operations in 2002 and the Mexico Campus in 2004. The main aim of the Centre is to increase knowledge in space science and technology by assisting nations in the region to develop and consolidate their indigenous capacities in these fields for economic, social and cultural development. The Centre conducts nine- and eleven-month course in Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems and in Satellite Communications, as well as seminars, workshops and short-term courses. The Brazil Campus is hosted by INPE/CRS in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil and Mexico Campus is hosted by INAOE, Tonantzintla, Puebla México.

Main tasks:
Lead of WP12

Experience:
The Brazil Campus and Mexico Campus have together trained more than 1000 participants, in long- and short-term courses, seminars and workshops on EO applications for protection of the environment and natural disasters, GNSS, satellite communications and space policy. Since 2002 it is running a specialization course on remote sensing and GIS designed for Latin America professionals. In partnership with GEODESASTRES-SUL, CEOS, USGS and Universidad Tecnologica de Panamá two workshops about geotechnology for natural disasters in Brasil and Panama are developed, and a Spring School about remote sensing and GIS for natural disasters (flooding and drought) in Brazil and Argentina is developed in partnership with GEODESASTRES-SUL, CONAE AND UN-SPIDER.

Staff Members:

Dr. Sergio Camacho, CRECTEALC Secretary General since 2007, former Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) 2002 to 2007; from 1999 to 2002, he was Chief of the Space Applications Section of OOSA; from 1994 to 1999, he held the post of Chief, Committee Services and Research Section of OOSA; Chairman of the Action Team on Near Earth Objects (NEOS) of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and Chairman of the Working Group on NEOS of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of COPUOS; Chairman of the Commission V of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) from 2009 to 2011 and Vice- Chairman of Commission V of the IAA from 2007 to 2009; carried out research at the Institute of Geophysics, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Dr. Camacho received his Ph. D. in Aerospace Science from the University of Michigan, in the United States and his Bachelor’s degree in physics from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Dr. José Guichard Romero, Campus México/CRECTEALC Director since 2005, former Director General (2001-2011) of the National Institute for Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics in México (INAOE), Chief of the Graduate Studies Division of INAO from 1997 to 2001; Director of the Association of Institutions for the Promotion of the Mexican Space Sciences (AIFOCEM), an association of public universities devoted to the promotion of the space sciences in México, from 2011 up to no; carry out research at INAOE in optical and infrared astronomy, in particular in the field of Active Galactic Nuclei. He received his Bachelor’s degree (1984) and his Ph. D. degree (1991) in physics from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Dr. Jesús A. González Bernal, Academic Coordinator Campus México, BSc. Engineering in 1992 from las Americas University, Puebla. In 1999 and 2001 respectively, he got his Masters degree and Ph. D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington, Texas. Jesus A. Gonzalez is currently enrolled in the Computer Science department at the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics, and Electronics (INAOE), Puebla. He also holds the Academic Coordinator position of the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Latin-America and the Caribbean (CRECTEALC), Campus Mexico, affiliated to the United Nations. His main research topics include: Algorithms machine learning, data mining, remote in Computer Science and sensing, and geographic information systems.